46 Slap in the face

"What? This is Song Chiyu's real husband?"

Qi Yanzhou supported her waist and asked, "Aren't you going to tell me to stop?"

"Slow down." That was her only request.

“Hmm,” he lowered his head and buried his face in her neck, “If you can’t stand it, climb up yourself.”

That being said, if he really didn't want to stop, even if she seemed to have the upper hand, sitting on his waist and abdomen, she was still the passive one.

The only difference is that she has learned from her previous experience and repeatedly tells herself not to feel ashamed, not to hesitate, and it doesn't matter if he laughs at her, since he's the one who will have to change the sheets in the end anyway.

Make sure to enjoy the present moment.

Qi Yanzhou noticed that she was becoming increasingly comfortable in his arms, and her previously restrained hip movements were becoming more and more unrestrained. She bit her lip and still let out a soft moan, her eyes looking at him filled with both anger and tender affection.

She openly shared all the things she normally found difficult to say, and called him "husband" more and more naturally.

He leaned down, his lips close to hers like two mandarin ducks entwined: "Do you love him more or me more?"

Song Chiyu couldn't help but squeeze her jaw hard. "You clearly said you weren't jealous."

"I'm not jealous, I'm just asking you again."

Ask her in this situation—

I asked him a hundred times and it was always him.

"I love you." Song Chiyu wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her low moans becoming melodious and plaintive once again. She couldn't help but roll over onto him and kiss his lips.

He didn't know how much he loved her, but he could always remember her deepest desires.

All the rationality they had just discussed vanished. Like a fish on the verge of drying up, she clung tightly to his chest, drawing upon the last vestiges of water.

The two of them tossed and turned, as if they could not stop for a long time.

...

Qi Yanzhou changed the sheets to a new one. Song Chiyu came out after taking a shower, silently walked around the wet sheets lying on the floor, and headed towards the bed.

It's that same old "turn your back on me" attitude again.

Qi Yanzhou smiled knowingly, picked up the bed sheet from the floor, and said, "I'm going out."

Song Chiyu wasn't so heartless, but in retrospect, it was inevitably somewhat shameful.

It seemed like he initiated it, but in reality, she was the one clinging to him at one point. Even though they were already that intimate, she still actively moved her waist to rub against his chest, as if she were desperately thirsty.

Especially when we were just chatting, she was saying that she wouldn't be able to live without him, but now... it seems like she really can't live without him.

Afraid that he would notice her shyness and then tease her, Song Chiyu pretended to be calm and closed her eyes, saying, "Okay, I'm going to sleep now."

**

Qi Yanzhou carried the bed sheet, walked through the corridor, and went to the laundry room behind the hall.

He tossed the sheets into the washing machine but didn't leave. Instead, he sat beside her patiently waiting. He couldn't help but laugh, remembering how completely different she was in and out of bed.

And they said they didn't like it.

She absolutely adored it. Otherwise, why would she be so wet?

It wasn't just her; the mere thought of the moist touch of his fingertips stroking her made his previously suppressed emotions surge back up. His memories of her clinging to him and her witty remarks resurfaced, instantly making his mouth dry. He got up and tried to distract himself.

He can't let her know how much he wants her.

Let her come and pester him herself.

But the thought of how persistent she was in pursuing him made even a man as unambitious as him feel restless.

I paced back and forth under the transparent glass roof.

At this moment, Qi Zhannan also walked in from the back passage, and asked with some surprise, "Second Uncle, what are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

"do the laundry."

"Why aren't you sleeping at night to do laundry?" Qi Zhannan was surprised.

"And you?"

“…I’ll wash clothes too.” Qi Zhannan turned his back and walked to the sink.

Qi Yanzhou silently observed him, her emotions calming down as she sat down in the chair behind her.

Qi Zhannan felt extremely uncomfortable and asked evasively, "Why are you staring at me?"

"Get a girlfriend," Qi Yanzhou said abruptly, glancing at the things he was washing.

Qi Zhannan choked quite a bit: "I just got it wet from drinking water, don't overthink it."

Qi Yanzhou did not answer.

Qi Zhannan became increasingly flustered: "Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm very serious about relationships. I would never get married just for the sake of getting married."

"Choose me?" Qi Yanzhou leaned back in his chair. "Then tell her that marrying her isn't out of the question?"

Qi Zhannan was first surprised that he knew, and then shocked that Song Chiyu would even tell him this. What was the difference between this and tattling? There was nothing wrong, but when he said it like this, it seemed like he had ulterior motives.

"She told you that?"

"Afraid she'll tell me?" Qi Yanzhou stared at him without blinking. "Then why would you dare mention it to her?"

"Didn't we just happen to be talking about that?" Qi Zhannan looked away guiltily. It seemed that Qi Yanzhou must have been the one who heard it, but his voice was clearly so soft.

"You just talked about it?" Qi Yanzhou's cool face revealed a calm understanding of the facts: "Then why did you give her your red envelope during the New Year?"

"I..." Qi Zhannan couldn't answer for a moment.

Qi Yanzhou rested her chin on her hand, waiting for his answer.

"Didn't you use your New Year's money to buy me toys when I was little? What's wrong with me giving her my New Year's money? It's not much money anyway."

“I’m your second uncle, and she’s your second aunt. How can we be the same?”

“But…” Qi Zhannan seemed to have thought of something, and though he knew it was impossible, he couldn’t help but muster the courage to retort, “If I had gone that day, she might not have…”

His second aunt.

But even when he mustered the courage, he couldn't bring himself to say those words.

"It's all the same." Qi Yanzhou ignored his offense, remaining completely calm and composed. He was utterly unaware of the shocking nature of his words.

"What do you mean by 'all, all the same'?" Qi Zhannan turned around and asked incredulously.

Qi Yanzhou didn't offer a single word of explanation. He got up and walked towards the now-quiet washing machine, never looking away from Qi Yanzhou's gaze. He said nothing, yet he said everything.

That's exactly what he meant.

Whether he goes or not, the result will be the same as now.

Qi Zhannan opened his mouth in surprise, "Second...Second Uncle?"

Qi Yanzhou bent down as if he hadn't heard, took out the bed sheets from the washing machine, and stood with his back to him under the long rope to hang them to dry.

Qi Zhannan couldn't believe these words would come from his law-abiding second uncle. "Second Uncle, if I... if I go, she might be you... you..."

She's my niece-in-law.

"Yes." He clearly knew, but he didn't care.

Qi Zhannan abruptly took two steps back, clearly not expecting him to be this kind of person at heart. "No, Second Uncle, didn't you beat me up because I didn't go on my blind date? If I had actually gone, and she... and we got together, you..."

what to do?

"I'll go to the ancestral hall," Qi Yanzhou replied casually. If that day ever comes, it will surely be because he shamelessly seduced her.

These four short words revealed to Qi Zhannan his determination and the deep emotions hidden beneath his calm exterior. If he were to actually go to the ancestral hall for this matter, it wouldn't be as simple as being punished by kneeling and being scolded. It would truly be a matter of being skinned alive, and he was clearly someone who cherished his reputation so much.

Unlike others who are fearless in their ignorance, he was well aware of the process, yet he still went ahead without hesitation.

"Do you like her that much?" Qi Zhannan was stunned. He couldn't understand how his rational and calm second uncle, who always prioritized the big picture, could say such a thing.

Qi Yanzhou did not answer, but his silence at this moment said it all.

Qi Zhannan remained silent for a long time. If it really came to that, he would rather back out than let Qi Yanzhou go to the ancestral hall and be judged by others. Then he remembered that this was just a hypothetical situation and breathed a sigh of relief: "But my second aunt has already said that she looks down on me, so whether I go or not, the result will be the same."

“If she doesn’t like you when you go, that’s her business.” Returning to the present, Qi Yanzhou straightened the bed sheet hanging on the rope and said matter-of-factly, “But if you don’t go and don’t give any prior notice, that’s a matter of etiquette.”

In an instant, he reverted to the self-disciplined and courteous Qi Yanzhou.

The assumption I just made was nothing more than a trivial joke. Although it wasn't particularly funny.

Qi Yanzhou hung up the sheets and was about to leave when Qi Zhannan belatedly realized what was going on: "Weren't you washing clothes? Why are you washing sheets so late at night?"

Qi Yanzhou didn't know if he understood, but he hoped he didn't. Otherwise, Song Chiyu would cause trouble for him again.

Qi Yanzhou offered no explanation, gave him a brief glance, and left directly beneath the glass roof.

Perhaps because Qi Jianguo had been reprimanded, Song Chiyu noticed that Qi Zhannan had become more polite to her. Although his tone and manner of speaking were the same as before, he was no longer as disrespectful as before, saying whatever came to mind, and he no longer put his arm around her shoulder so often.

Song Chiyu once suspected that he had been beaten again.

Unexpectedly, Qi Zhannan spoke up for Qi Yanzhou, saying, "My second uncle isn't the kind of person who would hit someone casually. He hit me before because I did something wrong, and he didn't really try to kill me."

Song Chiyu: "..."

What about what Qi Jianguo said on his behalf yesterday? He suddenly realized that he and Qi Yanzhou were truly a case of one willing to give and the other willing to receive, and everyone else was better off leaving it to others.

Song Chiyu wisely refrained from mentioning anything about him and Qi Yanzhou again.

Two weeks have passed in the blink of an eye.

In order to sleep in a little longer on Saturdays, Song Chiyu simply came over every Friday after get off work, so that she could also rest for a day on the weekend.

She found that the Qi family in Beijing wasn't so difficult to get along with; on the contrary, they weren't as rule-bound as she was. Although they lived under the same roof, they didn't interfere in each other's lives, creating a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere.

Sunday.

Song Chiyu rarely slept until around ten o'clock before getting up. Qi Yanzhou and Qi Jianguo left at seven o'clock, and by the time she saw the WeChat message he sent, he was about to come back.

Song Chiyu went to the kitchen, checked the remaining ingredients in the refrigerator, boiled a pot of water, and prepared to cook noodles. Qi Zhannan happened to walk in from outside. "Second Aunt, what are you eating?"

"Noodle."

"Do you know how to make seasonings?" Qi Zhannan asked worriedly.

"good."

"Then you cook the noodles, and I'll prepare the seasoning."

Song Chiyu agreed.

Qi Zhannan hadn't washed his face yet when he finished preparing the ingredients and went out.

As Song Chiyu served the noodles and carried the bowl out, she ran into Qi Yanzhou's two cousins-in-law returning, followed by their friends. Song Chiyu quickly glanced at them and hurried toward the nearest teahouse.

My cousin's wife was about to introduce Song Chiyu to their friends, but seeing how busy she was, she didn't say anything. Seeing how anxious she was, she knew she couldn't handle it, so she quickly put down her bag and went to help.

But their friends didn't think so.

Seeing that Song Chiyu wasn't even wearing makeup, yet she was serving the whole family, they all exchanged glances.

Because these friends were none other than Hao Yufang and Xie Yunjin's aunts, as well as Hao Yufang's close friends.

The five people met in a dance studio and now they met again at a jade exhibition. The two cousins ​​invited them to come and sit for a while. Hearing that the two cousins ​​lived in a courtyard house, they couldn't help but feel curious and followed them.

I never expected to see this scene as soon as I came in.

Hao Yufang's friends had no opinion on this, but Hao Yufang and Xie Yunjin's aunt didn't think so. Especially Xie Yunjin's aunt, who was originally sulking about Song Chiyu finding a rich second-generation heir, but unexpectedly found herself working like a slave here. She immediately revealed a hint of arrogance.

Song Chiyu hurriedly put down the two bowls, and seeing that the soup inside was about to spill, her two cousins-in-law each took one bowl and helped her place them on the table. "Why are you carrying so many? What if you spill them?"

If she gets burned, how are they going to explain it to Qi Yanzhou?

Song Chiyu hadn't thought that far ahead. Holding her earlobe, she explained, "When I realized it wouldn't work, there was no turning back. I had no choice but to bite the bullet and bring it over."

"Oh dear," the two cousins-in-law said with concern.

But Hao Yufang and Xie Yunjin's aunt saw it differently. Xie Yunjin's aunt even took a picture of the scene with her phone and sent it to the family group chat (which didn't include Xie Yunjin), saying, "Look, this is Yunjin's ex-girlfriend."

Someone in the group asked, "What are we doing?"

Auntie explained, "It seems like she's being scolded. I thought she'd marry well after leaving Yun Jin, but it turns out she's just working as a free nanny in a rich family."

"Oh my god!" Someone in the group immediately believed it: "She was so tough when she confronted her aunt at the dinner table back then, saying that even if she died poor, she would never bow down to the Xie family. I thought she was really that tough."

Hao Yufang and Xie Yunjin walked towards their two cousins-in-law, staring intently at Song Chiyu, waiting for her to break down.

My cousin's wife was completely unaware of their intentions and introduced them enthusiastically: "Yu'er, these are some of my new friends. You can just call them sisters."

The moment Song Chiyu saw Hao Yufang clearly, a fleeting look of surprise crossed her face, but it vanished in an instant. She showed none of the embarrassment or shame they had expected; instead, she wore a strange expression.

Qi Zhannan had just returned after washing his face and didn't notice the unusual atmosphere around him. He took a bite with his chopsticks and immediately showed an incredulous expression: "Song... I could make this delicious stuff for mixing shoe soles, and you cooked it like this?"

Song Chiyu originally wanted to greet Hao Yufang properly, but she couldn't care less at the moment. She picked up the noodles in her bowl and took a bite, then immediately realized that they were overcooked and pursed her lips with a guilty look on her face.

Qi Zhannan immediately realized that she probably didn't even cook noodles in Mingzhou, so he resignedly nodded and started eating.

The two cousins-in-law didn't know what to say, since they couldn't afford to offend either of them, and invited Hao Yufang and the others to sit down in the seats next to them.

However, in Hao Yufang's view, Song Chiyu was being scolded and disliked, yet she dared not utter a word.

Even someone as self-assured as her couldn't help but exchange a glance with Aunt Xie Yunjin.

Aunt Xie Yunjin couldn't hide her schadenfreude and casually said, "Actually, we knew Miss Song before."

The two cousins ​​were startled.

Even Qi Zhannan raised his head.

“Miss Song used to date my nephew,” Xie Yunjin’s aunt said.

Song Chiyu was also watching her, wanting to know what she could say.

The two cousins-in-law looked embarrassed, clearly feeling that such gossip was not something they should be listening to. But Xie Yunjin's aunt completely misunderstood, thinking they were very interested: "They were even talking about marriage at one point, but they still broke up in the end. This gentleman is Miss Song's current husband, right? I'm very happy to see that Miss Song was able to marry so well after breaking up with my nephew. I can only say that Miss Song and our Yunjin were destined to be apart."

The two cousins ​​smiled awkwardly, "Oh, I see."

Qi Zhannan silently observed her, feeling that something was off about her words, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He bluntly asked, "What do you mean?"

"Ah?" Aunt Xie Yunjin looked flustered and exaggerated. "Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry, I didn't know it was something I shouldn't say."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Qi Zhannan asked. "Are you just trying to start an argument by saying that?"

"No, I was just remarking," Aunt Xie Yunjin said innocently, raising her hand.

"What the hell are you sighing about?!" Qi Zhannan put down his chopsticks and walked up to Aunt Xie Yunjin: "Who the hell are you, that you have to come to our house and sigh?"

Song Chiyu had always known that Qi Zhannan spoke in a rough manner, but she hadn't expected him to be this rough.

He choked and coughed repeatedly.

Aunt Xie Yunjin looked even more innocent, "I didn't expect you to care so much about Miss Song having an ex, but it's true, and our Yunjin is just as good—"

"Who wants to hear this?" Qi Zhannan interrupted impatiently.

The two cousins-in-law were caught in the middle, which was extremely awkward.

Seeing this, Hao Yufang interrupted, "Alright, stop talking, it's all in the past."

"Stop pretending to be a good person," Qi Zhannan said, recognizing her immediately. "You're that old lady from the high-speed rail station the other day, aren't you?"

The words "old lady" pierced Hao Yufang's heart like a sharp knife, a woman who valued self-care.

"I'm not that old, am I?"

"You're not old yet?" Qi Zhannan blurted out.

Seeing that he was becoming increasingly unrestrained in his speech, Song Chiyu also symbolically tried to stop him, but he interrupted without turning his head, saying, "Don't worry about me. I just want these two people to explain themselves. What do you mean by going to someone else's house to say these things?"

Song Chiyu stared at the noodles across from him that were a third of the way through, and wondered if he was just holding onto the noodles because he didn't want to eat them.

Hao Yufang and Aunt Xie Yunjin appeared innocent and wicked on the surface, but they were secretly extremely pleased with themselves.

They wished he would jump as high as possible, so that everyone in the family would know that Song Chiyu once had a very loving and outstanding boyfriend, and that she married into this family out of despair.

Even if I don't make Song Chiyu divorce, I'll make sure she has a hard time in this family.

But they were wrong. The man in front of them, who was flying into a rage, was not Song Chiyu's husband. These two cousins-in-law had no right to interfere in Song Chiyu and Qi Yanzhou's affairs and just wanted to get out of this farce as soon as possible.

Song Chiyu didn't say a word from beginning to end because Qi Zhannan had said all the things she wanted to say.

It's a bit rough around the edges, but so what? The kid doesn't drink, gamble, or frequent brothels, so what's wrong with him being a little rough around the edges?

Aunt Xie Yunjin pretended to get up and leave, not forgetting to turn the tables and say, "How can you talk like that, young man? To be honest, you're not even in the same league as my nephew."

"Oh," Qi Zhannan said dismissively, "your nephew is nothing, why would I need to compare myself to him?"

Song Chiyu secretly gave him a thumbs up.

That's well said.

“You might not be able to compare with him, but who knows what Miss Song will think?” After saying that, Aunt Xie Yunjin pretended to have misspoke. “Never mind, I’ll go now. We can get together outside next time.”

The two cousins-in-law were eager for her to leave and quickly got up to lead her outside. Just then, Qi Yanzhou and Qi Jianguo walked in. Seeing so many people gathered at the entrance of the tea room, they silently looked around and finally settled their gaze on Song Chiyu: "What's wrong?"

The two cousins-in-law quickly took a step back, afraid of getting involved.

"Second Uncle, these two old women are acting like they're sick." Qi Zhannan walked over: "Speak—"

Song Chiyu quickly covered his mouth and pulled him behind her: "You're back?"

Qi Yanzhou could tell at a glance that she was hiding something from him, but he didn't care at all. He walked past the person in front of him and went straight to her: "Mm."

Xie Yunjin's aunt and the others were still reeling from the sudden shock of being struck by his handsome appearance when they saw the handsome man leaning against the back of Song Chiyu's chair with one hand, using her chopsticks to taste a bite of the noodles in his bowl: "Not too soft, it's pretty good."

Qi Zhannan immediately forgot about the three old ladies and turned around, exclaiming, "Are you having trouble with your taste buds? This is supposed to be delicious!"

Qi Yanzhou handed the chopsticks back to her, staring at him meaningfully and said, "I've never even asked her to cook noodles for me, so be content."

Hao Yufang and Xie Yunjin's aunt were both stunned.

Could this handsome, well-mannered man be Song Chiyu's husband?

Aunt Xie Yunjin was completely dumbfounded, while the video she had just sent was still going viral in the family group chat. At this moment, the vibration coming from her backpack felt like a series of slaps to her face.

Hao Yufang was also still in a daze.

Song Chiyu marrying a rich man wouldn't break her defenses, but she really couldn't understand how Song Chiyu could find such a scholarly man after leaving Xie Yunjin.

Hao Yufang's friend saw through their scheme.

She pursed her lips without making a sound and looked away.

And you still look down on him! Who knew he'd find someone else who's not only more handsome than Xie Yunjin, but also much richer and seems very educated.

Hao Yufang's friends were laughing their heads off.

I couldn't hold it in any longer, so I just went outside.

Song Chiyu sensed Hao Yufang's surprise and smiled gently. There was no smugness or boasting, only ill-intentioned contempt.

No wonder Xie Yunjin was so upset.

Hao Yufang recalled the dejected look on his face when he told her he was her husband. She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and said, "Sir."

Nobody paid any attention to her.

"Miss Song's husband."

Qi Yanzhou then turned around and asked in a gentle and refined manner, "Is there something you need?"

"Now that you and Miss Song are married, you will no longer bother my son."

Who is your son?

"Xie Yunjin".

Qi Yanzhou raised an eyebrow slightly; so this was what Song Chiyu wanted to hide.

Qi Jianguo and his two cousins-in-law, who had already left, all turned back upon hearing this.

"Why would I bother your son?" Qi Yanzhou retorted.

How would I know why you...

"Is there any reason for me to bother him?" Qi Yanzhou rarely acted so rudely.

Such a simple sentence left Hao Yufang speechless.

Yes, he's already married to Song Chiyu, so why would he need to bother her son?

She recalled Xie Yunjin's distraught appearance and knew that Xie Yunjin must have provoked the other person first.

There was no immediate response.

"It would be troublesome for you, Auntie, to keep an eye on your son. Since you know better than anyone that she's already married, stop hoping that she'll get a divorce and go back to him. Hope for something better for her."

"Huh?" Qi Zhannan was startled, and said with disdain, "You're dressed so well, how come your son is this kind of person?"

"You—" Hao Yufang had never suffered such humiliation before, and immediately turned and left.

Xie Yunjin's aunt also quickly followed.

Qi Yanzhou's two cousins-in-law stood to the side, barely daring to breathe, and said helplessly, "I'm sorry, we didn't know they were..."

Qi Yanzhou did not answer.

Song Chiyu stepped in to defuse the situation, saying, "It's alright, it's all in the past. Who would have thought they still haven't let it go?"

"We will no longer associate with them. We were just strangers who met by chance."

Song Chiyu knew that both of her cousins-in-law were intelligent people, so she smiled again and said nothing more.

Qi Jianguo realized this wasn't something he should be involved in and silently walked away. Only Qi Zhannan, completely oblivious to the fact that this wasn't his place to ask, deliberately brought up the sensitive topic: "Second Aunt, you have an ex-boyfriend?"

[Author's Note]

[Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]